Polly Phillips wins in Dubai
Third time lucky for Polly Phillips, as she takes out the 2019 Montegrappa Writing Prize, and takes home an Extra Bespoke to power her future writing career.
Polly Phillips was the winner of the 2019 Montegrappa Writing Prize, awarded within the programme of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai. For the expat mother and corporate communications consultant, her win is a lesson in perseverance.
“This is the third time I’ve entered and each time I’ve tried and failed, I’ve licked my wounds and gone back to the drawing board. This year I was lucky enough to catch the judge’s eye and I’ve been walking on air ever since!”
Phillips’ newest manuscript was enough to convince the competition judges: ‘Keep Your Friends Close’ is a noir that takes an original look at the nature of competition among women. Her win gives her the opportunity to move her writing career forward: with mentoring from literary agent, Luigi Bonomi – and a bespoke Montegrappa Atelier fountain pen to channel her imagination
The Montegrappa Writing Prize was created to provide a stepping stone for unpublished authors. It has proven to be a vibrant forum, with eight contestants from the last five editions going on to secure publishing deals. “This competition provides aspiring writers with a real chance of getting their work noticed,” says Bonomi, also one of the competition’s judges. “Every year I am astonished by the level of skill and imagination that we discover.”
Charles Nahhas, Director of Montegrappa’s Middle East operations said “We are proud to have played our part in helping so many new writers on the path to becoming recognised and published.”
We wish Polly every success with her future career and echo her words: “To anyone out there writing and wondering whether they are any good, I say ‘keep trying’!”
Instagram: @perthectpolly